Picking cart



Dm. 195i F, H. PUNTA @573,793

' PICKING CART Filed NOV. 18, 1949 3i-3 M. 'QJ

INVENTOR Patented Dec. 18, [1951 UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE Y Y2,578,793j., f `PI'CKING oAn'r Frank H. Fujita,vWatsonville, Calif.

Application November 18, 1949,` Serial No.v 128,126 I This inventionrelates to a picking cart, and more particularly to such a cart whichsupports a crate for receiving berries as they are picked.

An object of this invention is to providea picking cart which may bewheeled about a patch containing berry-bearing plants Without damagingthe plants.

Another object of this invention is to provide a picking cart whichsupports a crate for the picked berries in an inclined position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a picking cart which isin an easily accessible position during the entire picking operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a picking cartwhich ls of a light and durable structure, so that it is readilyportable.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon consulting thedrawings in conjunction with the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the picking cart of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View taken along the line 3--3 of Figurel;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken along the line 4--11' ofFigure 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals have been utilized throughout the several views to designatelike parts, there is shown the picking cart of the present inventionwhich is preferably employed for picking strawberries, said cart beinggenerally indicated by the numeral I0. The-cart I includes the frame,generally indicated by the numeral I I, comprising a pair ofhorizontally disposed side pieces I2, I3 arranged in divergent, spacedrelation with respect to each other. Positioned adjacent the end of theframe remote from the divergent ends of the side pieces I2, I3 androtatably supported therein is a wheel I4 for movement along a groundsurface 28. Positioned rearwardly of the wheel I4 and xedly secured tothe side pieces I2, I3 is a vertically disposed support I5. As clearlyshown in Figure 3, the support I5 includes a pair of spaced apart postsI6, I'I having their lower ends fixedly secured to the side pieces I2,I3 and a horizontally disposed handle bar I8 fixedly securedintermediate the upper ends of the posts I6, I1. Fixedly positionedtransversely of the posts I6, I'I and spaced above the side pieces I2,I3 by means of a pair of spacer bars 22, 23 is a rest I9. Positioned inparallel, spaced facing relation with respect to 2 clams. (olLzso-ss)the rest I9 and xedly securedto the side pieces I2, I3 is another rest2I. The rests I9 and 2l cooperate with each other to support a crate 20in an inclined position, with respect to the side pieces I2, I3.

Positioned rearwardly of the rest 2| and fixedly secured to the adjacentportions of the side pieces I2, I3 is another vertically disposedsupport 24. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the support 24 includes a pairof vertically disposed posts 25, 26 having their lower ends resting uponthe ground surface 28. The posts 25, 26 are iixedly secured intermediatetheir ends to the adjacent ones of the side pieces I2, I3 of the frameIl. Positioned intermediate the upper ends of the posts 25, 26 and xedlysecured thereto is a second horizontally disposed handle bar 2l.

In actual use, the crate 20 for' the reception of the berries issupported in its inclined position longitudinally of the cart I0. As thepicking cart I0 is moved in the patch, the crate 20 is partially orcompletely lled with berries. When the picking is completed, thepartially or completely filled crate may be carried from place to placeby grasping the rst handle bar I8 and the second handle bar 21 andlifting. When unloaded, the cart I0 may be easily moved from place toplace by grasping the handle bar I8 and lifting. The simplicity of thestructure of the cart Ill permits it to be-wholly or partiallyfabricated of wood, such that it is light in weight for easyportability, very durable, and cheap to manufacture.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed, numerous modications can be made without departing from thespirit of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A picking cart comprising a horizontally disposed frame, a wheelpositioned adjacent one end of said frame and rotatably supportedthereon for movement along a ground surface, a rst vertically disposedsupport embodying a pair of spaced upstanding posts and a horizontallydisposed handle bar connecting the upper ends of said posts arrangedrearwardly of said Wheel and having the lower ends of said posts fixedlysecured to said frame, a second vertically disposed support embodying apair of spaced upstanding posts and a horizontally disposed handle barconnecting the upper ends of said posts arranged adjacent the other endof said frame and having the posts intermediate the upper and lower endsxedly secured to said frame with the lower ends of said posts adapted torest on the ground surface, a first rest positioned transversely of andspaced above said frame rearwardly of said posts of said rst support andfixedly supported by said frame, and a second rest positioned above saidframe inwardly of said second support and in parallel spaced relationwith respect to said first rest and xedly secured to said frame, saidirst rest being spaced at a greater 'distancefrom said frame than saidsecond named rest, said rests cooperating with each other to support acrate in an inclined position.

2. A picking cart comprising a pair of horizontally disposed side piecesarranged in divergent spaced relation, a Wheel positioned intermediatethe ends of said side pieces remote 'fromthe'divergent ends thereof androtatably. supported in said side pieces for movement along a groundsurface, a rst vertically disposed support embodying a pair of spacedupstanding posts and a horizontally disposed handle'bar connecting vtheupper ends of said posts arranged rearwardly vof said wheel and havingthe lower ends of said* posts fixedly secured to said pieces. a secondvertically disposed support embodying a pair of spaced upstanding postsanda horizontally disposed handle bar connecting thevupper ends of saidpostsarranged adjacent-the divergent ends of said pieces with respectAto said rst, rest and xedly secured -to Vsaid pieces, said rst restbeingspaced at a greater distance from said pieces than said sec- Vondnamed rest, said rests cooperating with each otherfto support a crate inan inclined position.

FRANK H. FUJITA.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 689,932 Tucker Dec. 31, 19012,035,535 Colmorgen Mar. 31, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date`r580,222 Great Britain Aug. 30, 1946

